Material handling device

ABSTRACT

A material handling system including a bucket having a base, a sidewall extending outwardly from the base including an upper edge defining an access opening. The material handling system further includes a lid adapted to be connected to the bucket to cover the access opening. The lid includes a funnel portion having a spout portion to facilitate an exit of a material from the bucket through the lid, and into a bag secured to the spout portion.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application 63/134,834, which was filed on Jan. 7, 2021, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present disclosure pertains to a material handling device. More particularly, the present disclosure pertains to a container with a lid that facilitates a weighing of a substance and pouring the substance into a bag.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Containers such as buckets have traditionally been used for storing materials and for pouring the material at a desired location. However, buckets generally have wide mouths and are therefore not particularly useful for careful pouring of their contents, which often results in spilling or creating a mess. To overcome the spilling a funnel may be used, but funnels are unsteady and may require a second person to hold the funnel in place.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an aspect of the disclosure a material handling system is disclosed. The material handling system includes a container, such as a bucket, having a base, a sidewall extending outwardly and upwardly from the base, the sidewall including an upper edge defining an access opening. The material handling system further includes a lid adapted to be connected to the bucket to cover the access opening. The lid includes a funnel portion having a spout portion to facilitate an exit of the contents of the bucket through the lid.

Optionally, the material handling system includes a handle coupled to the sidewall of the bucket, the handle extending outwardly from the sidewall. Preferably, the handle is an open handle having an upper end attached to the sidewall, and a free lower end.

Optionally, the bag comprises a plastic film material.

Optionally, the bucket comprises a plastic material, and more preferably, a food-grade polymer.

Optionally, the lid comprises a plastic material, and more preferably, a food-grade polymer.

For a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the views in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a material handling system having a bucket and a lid with a funnel portion, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 2 illustrates the bucket positioned on a weighing scale using the lid in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 3 illustrates the material handling system of FIG. 1 in an inverted position and having a bag attached to a funnel portion of the lid for transferring contents from the bucket to the bag, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 4 illustrates a material handling system having a lid with a spout portion arranged at an inclination, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 5 illustrates a material handling system having a lid with a funnel portion pivotally connected to a base portion of the lid, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 6 illustrates a material handling system having a lid pivotally engaged to a bucket, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 7 illustrates a material handling system having a lid having a first portion and a second portion rotatably connected to the first portion, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure; and

FIG. 8 illustrates a material handling system having a lid having a handle and a bucket having a handle that cooperates with the handle of the lid for lifting the bucket, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, there is provided a material handling system 100 adapted to store contents, or a material, and facilitate the transfer of the material to a bag 200. The material handling system 100 includes a container 102, such as a bucket 102, for storing the material and weighing the material on a scale, and a lid 104 coupled to the bucket 102 for covering the bucket 102.

As shown in FIG. 1, the bucket 102 includes a bottom, or base 110, and a sidewall 112 extending upwardly from the base 110. In an embodiment, the base 110 may be circular in shape, and in such a case, the sidewall 112 may extend from the base 110 in the shape of a cylinder or a truncated cone around a longitudinal axis 114 of the bucket 102. The sidewall 112 includes a base edge 116 defined at an interface of the base 110 and the sidewall 112, and an upper edge 118 that defines an access opening 120 of the bucket 102. The access opening 120 permits the entry of a material into the bucket 102, and the exit of the material from the bucket 102. Although the bucket 102 preferably has a cylindrical sidewall or a truncated cone-shaped sidewall (which provide for a circular cross-section), it may be appreciated that the base 110 and the sidewall 112 may be any other shape, such that the cross-section of the bucket 102 may be, but is not limited to, a square, a rectangle, or oval, or any other suitable shape known in the art. The access opening 120 is covered/closed by the lid 104 to prevent the material from unintentionally exiting the bucket 102. Also, in an embodiment, the bucket 102 may include a flange (not shown) extending radially outwardly of the upper edge 118 of the sidewall 112. The flange may facilitate an engagement of the lid 104 with the bucket 102.

Additionally, the bucket 102 may include a handle 130 coupled to the sidewall 112 for holding and lifting of the bucket 102. As shown, the handle 130 may be, but is not necessarily, disposed proximate to the upper edge 118 of the sidewall 112 and extend outwardly from the sidewall 112. As shown throughout the drawings, the handle 130 may be an open handle with one end (for example, upper end 144) of the handle 130 attached to the sidewall 112, and a free lower end 146. Alternatively, the handle 130 may be a closed handle with both ends of the handle 130 attached to the sidewall 112. In some embodiments, the handle 130 may be integrally formed with the sidewall 112. In some implementations, the handle 130 may be removably attached to the sidewall 112 of the bucket 102. It is envisioned that the handle 130 may include any shape or structure that facilitates holding and lifting of the bucket 102.

As shown in FIG. 1, the lid 104 may include a base portion 132 adapted to contact the sidewall 112, and a funnel portion 134 extending upwardly or away from the base portion 132. The funnel portion 134 includes an elongated spout 136 that facilitates the exit of the material from the bucket 102 via the lid 104. Optionally, the lid 104 may also be used to position the bucket 102 on a weighing scale 300 (shown in FIG. 2) to measure a weight of the material contained inside the bucket 102. This is accomplished by removing the lid 104 from the bucket 102 and placing the lid 104 on the scale 300 such that the base portion 132 contacts a surface of the scale 300 and the bucket 102 is arranged on the spout portion 136.

Furthermore, the lid 104 aids in pouring the material from the bucket 102 to the bag 200. As shown in FIG. 3, the bag 200 is attached to the funnel portion 134 such that a portion of the spout portion 136 is positioned inside the bag 200. The bag 200 is then securely tightened around the spout portion 136 and the bucket 102 is inverted to shift the material in the bucket 102 into the bag via the funnel portion 134 of the lid 104. The bag 200 is secured around the spout portion 136 using any suitable type of means, such as a rubber band, a clip, or the like. Preferably, the bag 200 is secured around the spout portion 136 by being held in place by a user's hand.

In some embodiments, the spout portion 136 is arranged centrally to the lid 104 and extends substantially perpendicularly to the base portion 132. Alternatively, the spout portion 136 may extend at an inclination relative to the base portion 132, such as shown in FIG. 4, and/or may be arranged proximate to a side of the lid 104. In some embodiments, such as shown in FIG. 5, the funnel portion 134 may pivot relative to the base portion 132.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the lid 104 may be removably attached to the bucket 102, such as being snap-fitted to the bucket 102. The lid 104 may be connected to the bucket 102 using any other known means, such as being threadingly connected to one another. In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 6, the lid 104 may include a hinge and be pivotally coupled to the sidewall 112 and adapted to move between an open position and a close position. In the open position, the lid 104 is pivoted away from the access opening 120, while in the close position, the lid 103 covers the access opening 120.

The bucket 102 and the lid 104 can be formed from any suitable type of material, but preferably they comprise a plastic, or polymeric material. Even more particularly, the bucket 102 and the lid 104 comprise a food-grade polymer.

Referring to FIG. 7, another embodiment of the lid 104 is shown. The lid 104 includes the base portion 132 having a first portion 140 and a second portion 142, the second portion 142 being rotatably engaged with the first portion 140. The first portion 140 is securely attached to the upper edge 118, or is alternatively integrally formed with the sidewall 112. The first portion 140 includes the access opening 120. The second portion 142 is adapted to rotate between a closed position and an opened position relative to the first portion 140. The second portion 142 also includes the funnel portion 134 having the spout portion 136. In the open position, the second portion 142 is rotated away from the access opening 120 in the first portion 140, while in the closed position the second portion 142 is pivoted to cover the access opening 120, thereby selectively allowing access to the inside of the bucket 102 through the access opening 120.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 8 the lid 104 may include a handle 150 attached to the base portion 132 and extending downwardly from an end of the base portion 132. The handle 150 may be an inverted L shaped handle and may cooperate with the handle 130 of the bucket 102 for lifting and inverting the bucket 102 and pouring the material inside the bag 200 through the spout portion 136. Preferably the shape of the handle 150 on the lid 104 complements the shape of the handle 130 on the bucket 102.

Lastly, there is also provided the bag 200 for receiving the material from the bucket 102. The bag 200 has a mouth which can be closed or secured around the spout portion 136. The bag 200 can be formed from any well-known material which is suitable for the particular application and the material. For example, the bag 200 could be formed from a cellulose material like paper, or it could be formed from, or comprises, a plastic film material.

In use, the material handling system 100 can be used for storing, weighing, and transferring the material into the bag 102. To weigh the material inside the bucket 102, the lid 104 may be positioned on the scale 300 as shown in FIG. 2, and the bucket 102 may be positioned on the spout 136 of the lid 104. Optionally the bucket 102 may be placed directly onto the scale 300. The scale 300 is then tared or zeroed out, and the bucket 102 is filled with the material up to a desired weight. The bucket 102 may then be lifted from the weighing scale 300, and the lid 104 is secured over the access opening 120 of the bucket 102. The bag 200 is then attached to the spout portion 136 such that part of the spout portion 136 is disposed inside the mouth of the bag 200. The mouth of the bag 200 is securely tightened around the spout portion 136, and the bucket 102 and the bag 200 are inverted upside down. Accordingly, the material is funneled into the bag 200 from the bucket 102 through the funnel portion 134 due to gravity.

It should be understood that the foregoing description is only illustrative of the aspects of the disclosed embodiments. Various alternatives and modifications can be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the aspects of the disclosed embodiments. Accordingly, the aspects of the disclosed embodiments are intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variances that fall within the scope of the appended claims. Further, the mere fact that different features are recited in mutually different dependent or independent claims does not indicate that a combination of these features cannot be advantageously used, such as a combination remaining within the scope of the aspects of the disclosed embodiments. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A material handling system for handling a material, comprising: a bucket having a base, a sidewall extending upwardly from the base, the sidewall having an upper edge defining an access opening; a lid adapted to be connected to the upper edge of the bucket to cover the access opening, the lid having a funnel portion including a spout portion, and a bag having a mouth which is secured around the spout portion of the lid, wherein the material within the bucket is transferred into the bag by inverting the material handling system upside down, such that gravity draws the material through the funnel portion, then through the spout portion, and then into the bag.
 2. The material handling system of claim 1 including a handle coupled to the sidewall of the bucket, the handle extending outwardly from the sidewall.
 3. The material handling system of claim 1 wherein the bag comprises a plastic film material.
 4. The material handling system of claim 1 wherein the bucket comprises a plastic material.
 5. The material handling system of claim 4 wherein the bucket comprises a food-grade polymer.
 6. The material handling system of claim 4 wherein the lid comprises a plastic material.
 7. The material handling system of claim 6 including a handle coupled to the sidewall of the bucket, the handle extending outwardly from the sidewall.
 8. The material handling system of claim 6 wherein the bucket comprises a food-grade polymer.
 9. The material handling system of claim 6 wherein the lid comprises a food-grade polymer.
 10. The material handling system of claim 6 wherein the bag comprises a plastic film material.
 11. The material handling system of claim 1 wherein the lid comprises a plastic material.
 12. The material handling system of claim 11 wherein the lid comprises a food-grade polymer.
 13. The material handling system of claim 2 wherein the handle is an open handle having an upper end attached to the sidewall, and a free lower end. 